South Korea bans downloads of DeepSeek AI until further notice

The South Korean government announced on Monday that it had temporarily halted new downloads of an AI chatbot developed by DeepSeek, the Chinese company that has made waves in the tech industry.

As of Monday evening, the app was no longer available in South Korea’s Apple or Google app stores, though users could still access DeepSeek through a web browser. Regulators stated that the app service would be reinstated once it was confirmed to comply with South Korea’s personal information protection laws. This development is coming a month after top countries took action against DeepSeek AI.

Since its launch last month, the Chinese chatbot has surged to the top of the global download charts. The app is driven by an AI system that rivals the performance of leading products from American companies, yet DeepSeek claims it was developed at a fraction of the cost.

DeepSeek’s assertion that it created its technology using significantly fewer expensive computer chips than typically required caused U.S. tech stocks to drop last month. This has also sparked a debate over whether Washington’s efforts to restrict China’s access to such chips have been effective.

DeepSeek, a relatively unknown company supported by a stock trading firm, has recently gained significant attention due to its success. In China, it’s been celebrated as a tech industry leader, with the company’s founder, Liang Wenfeng, meeting with the country’s top leader, Xi Jinping, and other tech executives.

However, outside China, the app’s rising popularity has raised concerns among regulators regarding its security, censorship practices, and handling of sensitive data. In South Korea, the app became one of the most popular downloads in the artificial intelligence category, but the government has since advised many of its employees to avoid using DeepSeek products on official devices. Similarly, government agencies in Taiwan and Australia have also warned against using DeepSeek due to security risks.

The Personal Information Protection Commission in South Korea identified issues with how the app processes personal data, acknowledging that resolving these concerns could take significant time. To address the issue, DeepSeek recently appointed an agent in South Korea.

Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, stated during a briefing on Monday that the Chinese government has consistently required Chinese companies to adhere strictly to local laws and regulations when operating abroad.

He also expressed the hope that other countries would refrain from generalizing or politicizing matters related to economics, trade, and technology.